The pressure is mounting on Atlanta Falcons coach Arthur Smith as the team suffered a disappointing 9-7 loss to the league’s worst team, the Carolina Panthers, bringing their record to 6-8. This setback places them one game behind the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the New Orleans Saints in the NFC South. While winning every remaining game isn’t a necessity, the Falcons’ best chance at securing a playoff spot involves finishing the regular season with three consecutive victories, starting with a home game against the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday.
Arthur Smith, in his third year as head coach after a successful stint as the Tennessee Titans’ offensive coordinator, acknowledges the high stakes of not securing wins. Despite Falcons owner Arthur Blank stating that a decision on Smith’s future will be made after the season, the coach’s position has become more precarious following the recent loss to the struggling Panthers.
Quarterback Desmond Ridder’s performance in the last game, completing 12 of 20 passes for 152 yards with a touchdown and an interception, fell short of expectations. Consequently, Smith is opting for a quarterback change for the third time this season, returning to Taylor Heinicke. Heinicke, a former Washington Commanders starter, previously took over before the Week 9 loss to the Minnesota Vikings and started in the Week 10 loss to the Arizona Cardinals before Ridder reclaimed the position.
Indianapolis, despite losing rookie quarterback Anthony Richardson to a season-ending shoulder injury in Week 5, has positioned itself well with Gardner Minshew going 6-4 as the starter. Minshew’s recent performance, an 18-of-28 completion for 215 yards with three touchdowns in a 30-13 win over the Pittsburgh Steelers, highlights the Colts’ resilience. Running back Trey Sermon’s contribution in the absence of Jonathan Taylor and Zack Moss has been crucial as the Colts aim to maintain their momentum.
However, the Colts have faced internal challenges, suspending two special teams players, wide receiver Isaiah McKenzie and cornerback Tony Brown, for conduct detrimental to the team. Kicker Matt Gay is dealing with a hip issue. Meanwhile, the return of key players, including Jonathan Taylor and Zack Moss, remains uncertain.
As the Falcons prepare for a challenging matchup against the Colts, the team is dealing with injuries to key players like offensive lineman Kaleb McGary and defensive lineman David Onyemata, who returned to practice after sitting out the past two games.
The historical series between the two teams heavily favors the Colts, who have won 15 out of 17 games. In their most recent encounter on September 22, 2019, the Colts secured a 27-24 home victory.
